Lucknow: Stressing that maintaining law and order was his first priority, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that district magistrates and superintendents of police would be held directly responsible if any communal incident takes place in their respective districts.

"Maintaining law and order was the first priority of the government and there would be no compromise on it. In case any communal incident takes place in any district, the DM and SP would be held directly responsible," he said during a high level meeting with administrative and police officials in Lucknow.

The chief minister, who reached the meeting unannounced, said that government's image is built by officials and it is their responsibility that proper importance is given to qualitative development works while maintaining proper law and order.

"The working of departments linked directly with people like health, power, roads, food and civil supplies etc should be improved," he said while warning that stern action will be taken against officials showing laxity in carrying out their duties.

Yadav, who often complained against adverse media reportage, asked officials to ensure proper coverage in media in case any heinous crime takes place in their areas.

Asking officials to stay extra vigilant in view of upcoming panchayat polls and festival season, the chief minister said that if they manage to strike a dialogue with the people they would get actual and timely information about incidents helping them to take effective steps.

Yadav stressed on making the functioning of tehsils, thanas and blocks corruption free and asked the concerned officials to immediately issue pending financial sanctions for 2015-2016.